Same-same but different: Cusco, centre of the world

I had a lovely time in cusco exploring cobbled alley-ways, museums, and inca ruins. It was really lovely to see some of the team from Alli Kiru who cooked me a lovely dinner. I Think the highlight may have been the picturesque buildings and the way the sunlight worked its way dramatically across the many plazas making a different shadow or pattern with each passing moment. The inca were masters of designing living spaces that made the most of natural resources including light.

The inca people pretty much believed that cusco was the centre world... I can tell you this much: It definitely is the centre of the tourist world for South America. It got me to thinking; what makes a city alive or dead? I can think of many 15th century towns that have rotted away or been forgotten... But then some are re-discovered. Upon re-discovery, what determines whether they become a relic (like Machu Picchu) or a living space (like Ollamntaytambo). I guess one of the interesting things about Cusco is that it was never forgotten... Even before the inca, the place was inhabited... Maybe it is the centre of the world?